Pandoz 2006

Slideshow and Talk

2007-01-28T13:00:00.000+11:00

COME ALONG

Date: 1st March 2007
Time: 7.00pm—8.30pm
Place: UTAS, Stanley Burbury Lecture Theatre 1
Churchill Ave, Sandy Bay
Admission: $5 on the door
Contact: 0437668537, pandoz@bigpond.com

2006-09-19T19:48:00.000+10:00

This is the end my friends, Thursday Island. I'm off to the school to hand over the gift from way down south at Dover District High but otherwise there's only the thankyou's left to be said (final issue of newsletter in a day or two). In no particular order except for importance: my sincere thanks to Mum and Dad, brothers Matt, James and Jonny, Granny Hope Hughes and Granny Grace Hollingsworth, friends and other family out there (that's a catch-all), students and teachers from all the schools who've been following this journey, sponsors (AG, Utas SET, Sea to Summit and Power Plus), all the kind people who helped me lift the bloody boat or just stopped for a chat, and you sitting there reading this- you've tolerated and indulged me more than I deserve. Thankyou. And for my next trick I'll try to get off this island and wend my way south over the next six weeks. See you when I see you back in Tassie mid November.

2006-09-19T19:30:00.000+10:00

With my books read (twice) and my radio way back on Restoration Island (flat batteries) there was only wandering around or paddling to be done.

2006-09-19T19:26:00.000+10:00

Punsand Bay.

2006-09-19T19:13:00.000+10:00

You little beauty, Cape York.

2006-09-19T19:12:00.000+10:00

Orford Ness to Albany Island. The longest day of the trip at 70km but not the hardest with a tide and wind with me all the way. Sometimes a little too much wind but otherwise all good.

2006-09-19T19:10:00.000+10:00

It was at Orford Ness, a beautiful place of mudflats, sandspits, mangroves and blah blah blah. Next photo please.

2006-09-19T19:09:00.000+10:00

One more croc shot. This one slipped in just before I got there, eyeballed me from the water and disappeared without a sound.

2006-09-19T19:07:00.000+10:00

Could I be so lucky! This silly old lizard was trying to swim against a shocking wind and tide with a turtle in its choppers. Next morning the turtle was abandoned on the beach. Or was it a trap, did it have eyes on a bigger prize?

2006-09-19T19:04:00.000+10:00

Shelburne Bay to Captain Billy Landing. Blowing south-east and strong.

2006-09-19T19:03:00.000+10:00

Most afternoons I would stalk about looking for crocs. I found this one sunning beside a creek behind Shelburne Bay. A moment later it was back in the water with a powerful and lightning quick flourish. If I could take a photo of my excitement it would be blurry and fluorescent.

2006-09-19T18:41:00.000+10:00

Somewhere windy to somewhere else that was windy and then to here at Shelburne Bay. Still windy.

2006-09-19T18:39:00.000+10:00

And twisted, defeated sticks too.

2006-09-19T18:38:00.000+10:00

Restoration Island to somewhere very windy.

2006-09-19T18:36:00.000+10:00

Dave's new puppy, Quasimodo. Wise but bitey.

2006-09-19T18:34:00.000+10:00

Cape Direction to Restoration Island. Dave Glasheen, host spectacular opened up a box of rations when I arrived. Problem was that they weren't for me. Note to Anthony Malloch: I owe you 2 freeze dried meals and a ration of biltong. Dave owes you everything else but says you must come in person to collect it.

2006-09-19T18:30:00.000+10:00

Saw another croc fishing in the shallows around the corner here. Looked happy enough.

2006-09-19T18:29:00.000+10:00

Snavelled the odd coconut on the way up. A nice change from porridge and sultanas.

2006-09-19T18:28:00.000+10:00

Yep, I did miss a day back there. This is Cape Direction.

2006-09-19T18:27:00.000+10:00

Crocs. You can see the tracks of a big one and a little one coming out of the lagoon towards the ocean.

2006-09-19T18:25:00.000+10:00

Cape Sidmouth to Cape Direction (or have I missed a day somewhere?).

2006-09-19T18:24:00.000+10:00

Fife to Cape Sidmouth. First croc sighting here. From my camp on the hill I could see it fishing along the waters edge on the ocean side. RIGHT WHERE I LANDED.

2006-09-19T18:22:00.000+10:00

Morning on Fife and the trade wind had died (it was the only time it did). Worth lingering.

2006-09-19T18:20:00.000+10:00

Fife Island and my eternal enemy, the prickle. Note the two different weapons on display here. It's not unusual for the prickle fiends to cooperate in their sickening attacks.

2006-09-19T18:18:00.000+10:00

Not often was it calm enough to put my feet up but this is hiding behind the snad spit.

2006-09-19T18:16:00.000+10:00

Halfway to Fife Island on Magpie Reef (I think). the amount of sealife around these reefs is mind boggling. Just in this shallow bay there were schools of fish small and large, reef sharks, sting rays, turtles, blah blah blah.

2006-09-19T18:10:00.000+10:00

Stanley Island to Stainer Island. This was a long day dodging around reefs and through shipping lanes. Bird poo and isolation are the attractions here.

2006-09-19T18:08:00.000+10:00

Cape Melville to Stanley Island. Anchored off the distant sandspit is a French couple sailing around the world. I went aboard and ate bread with jam and drank coffee. Might do it in a yacht next time, more comfortable.

2006-09-19T18:05:00.000+10:00

It was down the beach at the 4WD camp that a man was dragged from his tent by a croc and grandma jumped on it. Remember that one? I created a series of obstacles and early warning systems just in case. No croc for me though.

2006-09-19T18:03:00.000+10:00

The cape and receding range are enormous piles of roundish granite. Stunning.

2006-09-19T18:01:00.000+10:00

Cape Melville.

2006-09-19T18:00:00.000+10:00

Aha, I know where that was. Cape Melville fresh water spring. I filled up on my way past and then boulder hopped back for a wash later in the afternoon.

2006-09-19T17:58:00.000+10:00

Mmm, I'd have to check my diary for where is. Empty.

2006-09-19T17:55:00.001+10:00

Tap, tap, hello. Anyone in there?

2006-09-19T17:55:00.000+10:00

Flattery to a Turtle Group island.

2006-09-19T17:51:00.000+10:00

Bedford to Cape Flattery. There's a silica mine and loading facility here but I stayed out of the way around the corner.

2006-09-19T17:47:00.000+10:00

From Cooktown to Cape Bedford. Actually I came right around the cape and across the bay to these sensational coloured sands.

Nearly Ready

2006-08-29T10:47:00.000+10:00

All the shopping is done and I just need to pack it properly and go to the post office. It's hot up here when you're not on the water so I've taken an extra day to get everything done. Why not! Also I had a chance encounter with Rob, Sharon, Rob and Andrew from the New South Wales Sea Kayak Club which was a bonus. They've paddled most of the east coast at one time or another, including Cape York, so I got great info for the upcoming stretch. Thanks. I've been in motel style accommodation for the last two nights and it's thrown me off guard. Too much TV, coffee and softness in the pillows but I can't seem to help myself. Time to go.

2006-08-27T13:04:00.000+10:00

Thoughts are turning to the waters north of Cooktown. It'll be about three weeks from here to Thursday Island. I'll send the computer ahead so no more pics until then. JUST THREE WEEKS! Holey-moley.

2006-08-27T12:57:00.000+10:00

It's also been a period of light winds. The fishermen are excited after a month of poor conditions. Doesn't matter much to me but it does get hot without the breeze.

2006-08-27T12:54:00.000+10:00

Go Bombers.

2006-08-27T12:53:00.000+10:00

All flower and no leaf? Seems topsy-turvy.

2006-08-27T12:51:00.000+10:00

Red on black. A powerful omen that Essendon will find success next season.

2006-08-27T12:49:00.000+10:00

Next stop was Cedar Bay where I found a 'whoopsie-daisy-ran-into-a rock' shipwreck.

2006-08-27T12:48:00.000+10:00

The only ugliness I found was immediately around me. The new tent is certainly more functional in this climate but it looks hideous. It was always going to hard to compete with the sleek lines of the 2nd Arrow.

2006-08-27T12:44:00.000+10:00

Green is a popular colour in the jungle. Even the ants are green sometimes.

2006-08-27T12:42:00.000+10:00

That led me to this patch of jungle.

2006-08-27T12:41:00.000+10:00

So I asked this painted crayfish the best thing to do.It told me to go north where the sand is cleaner and there are less red t-shirts. Good advice.

2006-08-27T12:38:00.000+10:00

The coastline from the Daintree River to Cedar Bay is the part where the rainforest meets the sea. I was going to stop here at Cape Tribulation until a bus emptied about 50 people onto the beach.

2006-08-27T12:34:00.000+10:00

My beach.

2006-08-27T12:33:00.000+10:00

All rightey, I'm bunked up in Cooktown right now but let's cast back to Snapper Island, a day north of Port Douglas. There was a kayak tour group around the other side. Dennis, the guide told me yet more stories about crocs and tiger sharks and then sent his punters out to chase whale in the bay.

2006-08-22T18:12:00.000+10:00

Kelvin is looking after the boat tonight. It's tucked safely amongst his catamarans on Four Mile Beach at Port Douglas. I'll check in again from Cooktown in 4-5 days. For students entering the Science Week Competition, good news, you have an extension. I've decided that Thursday Island would be a more appropriate place to read the entries and announce the winner. That means about 3-4 more weeks.

2006-08-21T17:19:00.000+10:00

This morning I packed up slowly under the coconut palms and have tootled around to Palm Cove, north of Cairns. I'm tucked into a tiny little beach on the headland. I've just walked around the rocks for a hamburger and lime thickshake- one of the finest I've ever had.

2006-08-21T17:16:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I stopped on Fitzroy Island hoping to stay the night in the camping ground. No can do, day-trippers only. I moved along to Turtle Bay where it started to rain. Some locals told me they'd seen a croc on this beach, hmm, a few years ago. Aha. Fresh water top-up. Lost another pair of sunglasses somewhere around here. Blast.

2006-08-21T17:13:00.000+10:00

Safer to stay on the beach.

2006-08-21T17:10:00.000+10:00

From Etty Bay I moved along to High Island where I found spiders. About 8 in one huge, insane, frightening, sticky, man-trapping web!

2006-08-21T17:08:00.000+10:00

This suspicious fella was partrolling around the Conway Beach Training Area a few days ago, which meant I had to keep going to Etty Bay. Always defer to the bigger boat.

2006-08-17T18:34:00.000+10:00

Today was a strangely quiet day with the wind wound right back to about 10 knots. Tried to squeeze my way onto Dunk Island (background) but they exiled me to this little dot next-door. Pays to book ahead when school groups are lurking around.

2006-08-17T18:31:00.000+10:00

The flora was noticeably juicier.

2006-08-17T18:30:00.000+10:00

Cape Sandwich. I'm not joking.

2006-08-17T18:28:00.000+10:00

Poddled over to Hinchinbrook Island yesterday. Didn't see any bushwalkers but there is a popular track called the Thorsborne running the length of the island. Stunning backdrop of 1000m+ peaks for most of the day.

Science Week Competition Question

2006-08-14T19:03:00.000+10:00

The question is this; "In a fight to the death between two crocodiles, one made of rock and the other made of water, who will win? Explain your choice."
Please read the rules of entry I posted a few days ago (scroll down) before you email your answer. Be creative, think like a scientist. I look forward to your entries and I wish each and every one of you could win the book, but you can't because there's only one.

2006-08-14T18:53:00.000+10:00

It needs to be so long because the ships that are loaded with sugar (via the conveyor belt in the long shed) have a restricted draft. The Hinchinbrook Channel flushes out tonnes of muddy silty sandy blobules. At low tide there is a whole lot of beach around here. Glad I came in at high tide! Also, you can see the osprey nest and the terns hanging around waiting to swoop down on the unsuspecting garfish. Structures that accomodate the local creatures are okay with me, unless they're crocs.

2006-08-14T18:49:00.000+10:00

This might also be useful in your investigations. I think it's a method to minimise rusting of the steel struts. Being as they are jammed into the muddy salt water, rust would be a problem. The lady in the shop told me it was built in the early eighties and originally had a life span of 20 years. Still seems to be going strong.

2006-08-14T18:46:00.000+10:00

Hello students and other teacherly types at CSIRO-SEC in Hobart. This, as requested, is the blimmin' long pier at Lucinda. 5.7 something kilometers. I came under it after crossing from Orpheus Island today.

Win a Book About Little Squiggies

2006-08-12T18:57:00.000+10:00

Pandoz 2006- National Science Week (NSWk)- Utas Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology (Utas SET) Competition. How’s that for a catchy name!
To celebrate NSWk, Utas SET has generously put up a ripping good book for a prize, ‘Plankton: A Critical Creation’ by Gustaaf Hallegraeff. To snatch the booty all you have to do is follow the following guidelines and answer a question.
1. Open to students in Grades 3-10 from anywhere in Australia, but Tasmanian students will be preferred. If you are from anywhere else your answer will have to be truly superb. That’s not fair, I know.
2. A question will be posted on this blog during NSWk (12-20 August). Probably on Monday or Tuesday so stay tuned in.
3. Wait until you have thoughtfully answered the question before sending it to me at pandoz@bigpond.com.
4. You will also be disqualified if your answer is more than 100 words. On this point I will be brutal.
5. Entries close on 25th August and the winner will be announced on 29th August. Probably. If I’ve gone past Cooktown by then it will have to wait until I reach Thursday Island (mid-late September). I’ll publish a selection of entries in the final issue of The Pandozer.
6. Your emailed entry should also include your name, age, school and school address (so the book can be sent to you). If no-one enters then I get the book when I return.
7. Judging is by me and the decision is final and incontestable. There are no criteria, it will be completely arbitrary. If all entries are rubbish then I get the book.
8. Confused? Re-read points 1-7.
9. Still confused? Email me.

Good luck, have a great Science Week, and my thanks to Utas SET for all their help.

2006-08-12T18:48:00.000+10:00

I landed on a great little sand/coral spit and have spent the afternoon fossicking and floating.

2006-08-12T18:46:00.000+10:00

Today I made a short hop over to Acheron Island because I was too stuffed to continue to Havannah Is. Plus I wanted to read this sign. Is 'Strictly Prohibited' worse than merely 'Prohibited'? At least it's not 'Really Really Seriously Prohibited'. There's a campsite and fireplaces here so I'll take my chances.

2006-08-12T18:42:00.000+10:00

I landed after sunset and before the near-full moon came up which made life interesting. Glad I didn't come roaring into one of those boulders. Glad I didn't roar for that matter, it would've ruined the ambience.

2006-08-12T18:38:00.000+10:00

Made a quick stop on the eastern side of Magnetic Island to buy sunnies yesterday before relocating to camp on the empty western side. Thanks to Louie and Chris for helping me out.

2006-08-12T18:35:00.000+10:00

Sorry about this but it's a warning to the kiddies out there. Wear your sunglasses! Somehow I lost two pairs in the last week and had two days on the water without eye protection. Irritated the pre-existing pterigium badly.

2006-08-12T18:32:00.000+10:00

From Bowling Green it was another hop across a broad bay to Cape Cleveland. This is the sunrise. Not normally moved to take pictures in the morning but the light was good.

2006-08-12T18:31:00.000+10:00

Has been a splendid few days coming up from Cape Bowling Green. The cape is an extraordinary sandspit sticking about 20km out into the ocean.

2006-08-08T18:02:00.000+10:00

And this is the view down onto Camp Pando. Should be another belter of a day tomorrow with similar assistance up to Cape Bowling Green.

2006-08-08T18:00:00.000+10:00

This is the view over to the next bay.

2006-08-08T17:58:00.000+10:00

Nearly 50km in about 6 hours because it was a dead perfect tail-wind. Landed here on Cape Upstart. There are shacks along a number of bays accessible only by boat. Sleeping out is an option.

2006-08-08T17:56:00.000+10:00

Last night I camped just before Abbot Point (another coal loading terminal) behind a bush. It was windy. Still windy this morning, probably windier (25-30kn).

2006-08-08T17:55:00.000+10:00

Monte's Reef Resort was a welcome refreshment stop in Gloucester Passage yesterday. Very laid back, very cool.

2006-08-06T18:21:00.000+10:00

Gloucester Passage, but that's for tomorrow.

2006-08-06T18:20:00.000+10:00

Camped tonight on Saddleback Island after a speedy day of strong southeasterly wind. There is a coral reef just meters from the edge of the sand spit. These old chunks must have been thrown up in some heavy weather, maybe during a cyclone?

2006-08-05T18:22:00.000+10:00

Right in the heart of the Whitsunday Passage tonight on some island. I won't say which one in case I'm not supposed to be here. I had planned on stopping at Pine Island but the landing was rocky and bothersome. Keen eyes will notice the new tent. Sadly I said goodbye to the Second Arrow at Bucasia. Happily, and thanks to Sea to Summit, I said hello to this little greenish number. Very spacious and airy. Two doors so when anyone comes in that I don't like, I can sneak out the other one. Only thing is that I can't lie on my guts to eat my porridge in the morning. Probably good for my digestion but I'm quite fond of lying on my guts first up. Few whales and heaps of turtles around.

2006-08-05T18:13:00.000+10:00

Six yachts were anchored in the bay including one from an around the world rally. Cor blimey.

2006-08-05T18:12:00.000+10:00

With a cool SSE breeze I paddled over to Goldsmith Island yesterday. Dozens of butterflies flapped about the scene for a decent try at tropical paradise.

2006-08-02T18:38:00.000+10:00

I'll make another outrageous claim and tell you that this is Skandia coming in to win the longest ocean race in Australia, the Sydney to Mackay. Don't know for sure but what's the harm in guessing? I was only about 20 minutes from taking line honours myself. We'll have to work on the handicapping system for next year.

2006-08-02T18:34:00.000+10:00

Hay Point coal loading terminal. Fred the caravanner from Vicco tells me this is the longest pier in Australia, but he's not fully committing... probably is though.

2006-08-01T18:02:00.000+10:00

And here we are tonight (one day south of Mackay), all up to date and camped yet again on the beach! I'm almost positive that the high tide after midnight won't reach me here. The newsletter will sent tomorrow or maybe Thursday.

2006-08-01T17:58:00.000+10:00

Big old whale flopping about in Broad Sound yesterday. From a distance it was doing the most amazing breaches but chilled out when I passed by.

2006-08-01T17:56:00.000+10:00

A high rocky bank with a boat hanging over it on Poynter Island.

2006-08-01T17:55:00.000+10:00

You might be able to just see the kayak down on the water edge. In the blink of my squinted eye the kayak began floating out on the rapidly rising tide. Quick dash over the crushed coral and shells saved the day and a highly embarassing morooning.

2006-08-01T17:50:00.000+10:00

Very bad news for my kayak. I dragged it over the rocks here on Lingham Island because the thought of going backwards and forwards and then carrying it over safely was too much at the end of the day. This is right in the middle of Shaolwater Bay where the tides can be as high as 7 metres.

2006-08-01T17:47:00.000+10:00

Pinetrees Point, just south of Strong Tide Passage. Love the names. Accurate too, both of them.

2006-08-01T17:45:00.000+10:00

When it rains my hands get extra waterlogged. The pads that grip the paddle go square and spongy.

2006-08-01T17:43:00.000+10:00

Where the fresh water ran onto the beach it cut and parried into the darker mineral sands creating a sort of natural happy-pants look.

2006-08-01T17:41:00.000+10:00

The tides have dominated my thinking for much of the time as they ebb and flood on a big scale. Long hauls at low tide have been par for the course.

2006-08-01T17:40:00.000+10:00

This was the day before I entered the training area. It had a running creek where I filled up all my empty containers for a possible 3-4 day dry run.

2006-08-01T17:38:00.000+10:00

I'm back on the grid after a woolly week of wild currents, empty islands and prohibited places. The Shoalwater coast where this osprey(?) was snapped is stunning.

2006-07-25T17:20:00.000+10:00

Tomorrow will be another short day that will take me to the edge of the military zone. After tomorrow I'll be free to steam north without fear of exploding everywhere. I also saw the first sea snake of the trip today and fell out in very small surf upon landing this afternoon. It was so surprising that I let the paddle whack me in the head too. Water's boiled, might be up to 3-4 days before next posting?

2006-07-25T17:15:00.000+10:00

Quality beachcombing to be had.

2006-07-25T17:12:00.000+10:00

Look at all that sand! I call dragging the boat up the beach the 'truck pull'. Good for my lazy legs.

Emu Park

2006-07-24T14:10:00.000+10:00

I've pulled up at a caravan park in Emu Park for a couple of nights as I await the opening of the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area. A few days ago a yachtie was scared witless by a helicopter gunship escorting him and his family out of the area. I guess they mean business. Once again I find myself in the laundry using the powerpoints to give everything a good charge-up. It's cosy and I get to chat to everyone coming in to their ironing. Back on the water tomorrow.